Dimmer cap for headlight bulbs



Nov. 23 1926.. 1,608,257

G. R. SWENSON DIMMER CAP FQR HEADLIGHT BULBS Filed Jan. 2. 1925 Patented Nov. 23, 1926.

PATENT OFFICE.

GUY R. SWENSON, OF ROCKFORD, ILLINOIS.

DIMMER CAP FOR HEADLIGHT BULBS.

Application filed January 2, 1925. Serial No. 34.

This invention relates in general to headlights for motor vehicles and has more particular reference to means for dimming the headlights by deflecting certain rays emanating from the incandescent light bulbs.

The primary purpose of my invention is to provide an improved dimmer cap adapted to be attached to the bulb of a headlight having a parabolic reflector, the cap bein preferably but not necessarily made 0 sheet metal and comprising a one-piece body having a lower part adapted to intercept rays which would normally strike the bottom portionof the reflector and be reflected forwardly into the eyes of an approaching driver, and an upper part adapted to intercept the rays which would normally be directed forwardly and upwardly and produce a direct glare which is harmful to the approaching driver, said body being cutaway in front of said lower part and beneath said upper part to allow unrestricted passage of the rays forwardly and downwardly to illuminate the road bed in front of the car and being further cut away above said lower part and at the rear of said upper part to allow. unrestricted passage of the rays up wardly to strike the upper portion of the reflector and be thereby reflected forwardly and downwardly to illuminate the road bed farther ahead.

Another purpose of my invention is to provide a dimmer cap of the character described shaped to conform to and closely fit on a bulb and having arms adapted to embrace the bulb and to interlock so as to hold the cap from displacement. Another purpose is to provide the cap with a retaining lug adapted to enter the bayonet opening of the light socket to hold the dimmer cap from rotative displacement.

Still another purpose is to provide a dimmer cap embodying the features mentioned so constructed that it may be produced at a comparatively low cost.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure 1, is a die rammatic vertical section through a para olic reflector showing in operative relation thereto a dimmer cap embodying my invention;

Fig. 2, is an enlarged vertical sect-ion through the dimmer cap, showing its operative relation to the bulb and socket;

Fig. 3, is a top view of the dimmer cap;

Fig. 4, is an end view looking at the rear or attaching end;

Fig. 5, is a side view of the cap;

Fig. 6, is a front view thereof; and

Fig. 7, is a detail view of the interlocking attaching arms.

In illustrating my invention only the reflector 8 of a headlight is shown, the resired form, thus promoting economy in "the cost of production. My invention further contemplates shaping the body of the dimmer cap in a particularly novel and advantageous manner to intercept certain rays emanating from the bulb and allow unrestricted passage of other rays so that they will function to advantage. Furthermore,

I propose to so shape the body piece as to include attaching elements and means for preventing displacement of the body in any direction. y

The one-piece sheet metal body is substantially spherical in form but isso cut away at its top and at one end as to fit over a bulb from beneath. The body, designated generally by 13, has a pair of attachin arms 14 and 15 adapted to embrace the neo portion of the bulb and to be interlocked one with the other for holding the cap in position. The interlocking means at present employed comprises an eye 16 in the arm 14 adapted to receive the reduced finger 17 on the arm 15 and to be turned back to a holding position as clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 4. The body is held from rotative dis placement on the bulb by a retaining lug 18 adapted to enter the bayonet slot 12.

The body has two major light intercepting ortions which will for purpose of clarity e referredto as the lower and upper body parts 19 and 21 respectively. The body part 21 is located almost wholly in front of the body part 19. The body is cut away to provide certain areas or zones through which the light rays emanating lll - and that the construction is such as will per till from the bulb may pass unrestricted. Une of these cut-aways is in trout ot the lower part 19 and beneath the upper part 21 to allow unrestricted passage of the light rays for directly illuminating the road bed close to the car; and the other, located above the lower part and at the rear oil the upper part allows unrestricted passage of the rays to the upper portion ot' the reflector so that they will be reflected torwardly and downwardly for illurninatinr, the road bed tarther ahead of the car than those rays emahating from the first-mentioned opening. lt will be manifest that the opaque lower body part 19 prevents the rays from strilring" the lower portion at the reflector and consequently from being reflected forwardly and upwardly so as to be dangerous to an approaching driver, also that the opaque body portion 21 intercepts light rays which would normally be directed-forwardly and upwardly and consequently objectionable.

it will be manifest from the toregoing that the dimmer cap may be easily attached or removed as the case may require; that when in position it is edectually held from displacement; that the several parts of the body are in permanent operative relation and that they will serve in a practical and satisfactory manner the purposes intended;

mit its production at a comparatively low cost.

"it is believed that the foregoing conveys a clear understanding of my invention and while l have illustrated and described but a single working embodiment it should be understood that changes might be made in details of construction without departing .irorn the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims in which-- it claim:

1. it dimmer eap tor the incandescent naoaaar bulb in a headlight having a parabolic re Hector, comprising a one-piece sheet material body shaped to conform to and closely fit on a bulb and providing a lower part adapted to intercept rays which would normally strike the bottom portion of the retlector and an upper partlocated forwardly of the lower part and adapted to intercept rays which would normall be directed lor wa'rdly and upwardly, sai' upper and lower parts being joined by an integral connecting web, said body being cut away in front of said lower part and beneath said upper part to allow unrestricted passage of the rays forwardly and downwardly and being further cut away above said lower partand at the rear of said upper part to allow unrestricted passage of the rays upwardly to strike the upper portion of the reflector, the upper edges of said lower part and the lower edges of said upper part being substantially in the same horizontal plane.

2. dimmer cap as set forth in claim 1 having" a pair ot arms integral with said lower part and adapted to embrace the stem end of the bulb on the upper portion there of and having means at the free ends thereof for connecting the arms together to hold the cap thereon said connecting means permitting; ot the connection oil said arms despite slight variations in the diameter of the stem end ot the bulb.

3. fl. dilnrner cap as set forth in claim 1 having a retaining lug adapted to enter the bayonet opening in the socket to prevent rotative displacement oil the cap.

The combination with a headlight reflector and a light bulb therefor having a "ill lit

socket provided with bayonet than dimmer fitting about the bulb and having a positioning lug to engage in a bayonet slot :tor the purpose described.

Gill" lit. SWEldElUNQ 

